News

Call to action borne of complaints that offered no resolution

By Mike Wood

Staff writer

Monday, July 14 (8:30 a.m.): One week last November, Lynn Carruthers of Neighbors for Safer Streets reached a critical point in fielding gripes about traffic and safety issues in Rossmoor.

“It was this unbelievable amount of whining, complaining and moaning in emails and angry phone calls,” said Carruthers, noting how none of those offered a suggestion or solution, just complaints. “I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do with this? … We all need to … do something.’”

Turning exasperation into inspiration, she came up with a new campaign for Neighbors, the organization she founded over three years ago. It has a simple message – “Do Something!”

“Do Something,” aimed at inspiring people into action, kicked off in late May. It is being promoted at the organization’s information table in Peacock Plaza during the Farmers’ Market, and when speaking to clubs and Mutuals.

“Do Something’s” purpose fits that of the advocacy organization Carruthers founded in May 2022. Neighbors for Safer Streets arose in the aftermath of a trio of driver-pedestrian accidents in Rossmoor in a six-week span – one caused a fatality; the others resulted in serious injuries for two pedestrian residents. Neighbors’ efforts helped lead to significant traffic and pedestrian safety improvements around Rossmoor.

The new campaign’s slogan is concise yet casts a wide net for ways someone can focus their energy. A promotional postcard suggests ideas like “increase your visibility,” such as using the pedestrian flags when crossing at crosswalks. “Slow down” and “Observe the rules of the road” also focus on behaviors; other suggestions point to involvement.

Getting involved could mean joining Neighbors programs like “Adopt a Crosswalk,” or becoming a Street Scout, consisting currently of a dozen volunteers who function like crossing guards and help assist residents across busy streets and intersections for big events like Friday Farmers’ Markets.

“Do Something” also is promoted with clever T-shirts and in catchy postcards, illustrated by Neighbors’ Steve Osborn, who illustrates Street Smarts items in the Rossmoor News.

A large banner, sponsored by the Rossmoor LGBTQ+ Alliance, adorns Neighbors’ location at the Farmers’ Market, where Neighbors has a presence each Friday in Peacock Plaza.

“(The Alliance) paid for it … They wanted to do something, and I said we sure could use a banner,” Carruthers said.

Novel ideas, such as creating an animated short to promote pedestrian safety, are coming up in conversations and at speaking engagements.

“I’m hearing from people I’ve never heard from before,” Carruthers said. “How can we get involved? Can I come, can I join? Could you use a little money? What can I do?”

She cited one meeting that 12 people attended. “All those 12 people had some really interesting questions and great suggestions,” she noted.

Another concept in the works is an offshoot of the new brighter pedestrian flags that arrived early this year at each Rossmoor crosswalk, following the organization’s “Mapping the Map” project. This would be a flag-holder being developed for pedestrians who use walkers or other assistive devices, with hopes that those can be ready later this summer, Carruthers said.

Plans are in the works for Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month this October, including another “Coffee with a Cop” gathering with Walnut Creek police officers.

In tackling a persistent problem – dangerous driving in Rossmoor – Carruthers came to realize the volume of complaints she’d hear.

“Truth is, I brought it upon myself,” Carruthers said. “For the first two years, I would say, ‘send me an email and let me see what I can do’ or ‘send me an email, and I’ll pass it on.’ It’s just that it finally became a little too much to absorb.”

That said, there’s positive feedback that’s encouraging, such as residents expressing thanks for Streets Scouts’ presence at large events like June’s Pickleball4Parkinson’s fundraiser and the Pride Walk.

“Almost every person who walked by me at the Pride Walk said thank you,” Carruthers said.

“I’m out walking and someone says, ‘Thank you so much for doing that’ and ‘I feel so much safer when you’re there on Fridays to cross Tice Creek from Oakmont,’” Carruthers said. “It’s definitely made a difference.”

Email neighbors4saferstreets@gmail.com for more information about the organization and the “Do Something” campaign.